Therapist 2 (DCR) at Grant County, WA

About the Department

The Therapist 2 provides behavioral health services to individuals with emotional behavioral, mental disorders and substance use disorders, assuring individualized quality behavioral health services which contribute to the well-being of citizens of Grant County.  Services may be provided in an individual and/or group setting. 

Renew provides individual and/or group treatment services to individuals with emotional, behavioral, other mental disorders, and substance use disorders, to enhance independent choice, satisfaction and optimum participation in the community, family, and employment or education environments.  This position may be required to work various hours/days of the week and is expected to work a minimum of 40 hour per week.  The schedule for this position will be set by a designated manager or supervisor and may be changed as Agency/department needs change. This position is represented by the Teamsters Local Union #760.

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Therapist 2 (DCR Designation):

The qualified Therapist 2 with a Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) designation may also provide proactive crisis intervention and crisis response services to individuals, ensuring individualized quality behavioral health services that contribute to the well-being of citizens of Grant County with behavioral health issues.

This position also provides services and functions of a County Designated Crisis Responder, including investigation for involuntary placements.

Position Duties

The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties.  Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position. Employee must comply with all County and department policies, procedures, WAC’s, or other regulatory bodies.

• Provides mental health and substance use treatment services to identified caseload, addressing the individual’s needs and assuring treatment is commensurate with clinician’s education and licensure/certification.
• Completes and maintains appropriate records which meet Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Revised Codes of Washington (RCW), other contracts, and all other applicable Agency requirements.
• Meets competency level for service coding, billing requirements, and other direct service standards as established by the Agency.

• Maintains strong working relationships with referring outside agencies, i.e. medical clinics, hospitals, convalescent centers, schools and other county agencies, as appropriate, to ensure continuity of care for individuals served.
• Provides therapy and group treatment services for dually diagnosed individuals, as assigned.
• Creates individual treatment plans reflecting measurable goals, timelines and treatment outcomes, incorporating natural supports and maintains the individual’s maximum level of functioning.
• Makes referrals to appropriate resources when not provided by the Agency and are basic to the needs of the individual and coordinate services between other agencies.
• Provides therapeutic intake services and pre-enrollment assessments to individuals within and outside the facility as appropriate.
• Documents accurately in client records within established Agency timelines.
• Provides or obtains and includes in treatment plan appropriate specialist consults per Agency requirements.
• Assures services are provided which support the individual’s rights and are compatible with the particular culture and primary language of the individual.
• Actively participates in training and other meetings, whether in or out of office, as requested.
• Provides telephone screening, face-to-face crisis intervention and follow-up services to enrolled and non-enrolled individuals in various service locations including jails, nursing homes, hospitals, individual’s homes and residential facilities, etc.
• Complete staffing’s after designated shift to next crisis worker. 
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the community, medical, law enforcement, DCFS, schools, MCO’s, Juvenile, DSHS, and other county agencies, as appropriate, to ensure continuity of care for individuals served in Grant County. 
• Respond to calls as determined by contract. 
• Provide inpatient hospital liaison coordination, discharge planning, complete post hospital services.  
• Review Least Restrictive Alternatives (LRA), meet with individuals to address their needs and inform them of their rights collaborate and assist clinicians with identified individuals.
• Assures services are provided which support the individual’s rights and are compatible with the particular culture and primary language of the individual.
• Create Crisis plans with individuals in collaboration with natural supports and other community partners involved during a crisis situation.
• Actively participate in staffing’s, team meetings and consultations, as requested.
• Meets competency level for service coding, billing requirements, and other direct service standards as established by the Agency.
• Must remain within Grant County boundaries throughout designated shift.
• Therapist 2 will be required to transport individuals, post-overdose, to facilities for higher levels of care.

Qualified employees with a DCR designation may also perform the following job duties:

• Provides prompt responses to calls and requests and make appropriate, consistent, discretionary judgments in the provision of crisis/emergency services as well as providing disposition to referral source.
• Respond to crisis calls, crisis walk-ins and to provide crisis stabilization services. Review daily reports for client follow-up and referral as indicated.
• Develop, implement and participate in training-needs updates with supervisor to increase competencies that are necessary to the provision of quality services as a Designated Crisis Responder.
• Provides crisis intervention; arranging for emergency medications (when prescribed); arranging for medical services; assuring food is provided; providing or arranging transportation to services, as needed; and assisting with arrangements for other services or resources as appropriate.

Team-Specific Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Any combination of education and experience may be substituted as long as it provides the desired skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Required

• Master’s Degree in applicable field
• Mental Health Professional as outlined in current WAC’s and RCW’s
• At least two years of related experience in the direct treatment of individuals and families with emotional/behavioral disorders
• Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUD-P) Certification in the State of Washington
• Strong assessment (risk, suicidal, crisis intervention and diagnostic) and counseling skills
• Demonstrated ability to respond appropriately to aggressive behaviors with least restrictive interventions
• Strong written and spoken communication skills        
• Demonstrated time management, organizational and networking skills

• Good personal computer operations experience and skills including Word and Excel 
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License with proof of automobile insurance 
• Background Check: Must have an acceptable background report, at time of hire and every three years afterward
• Driving Abstract: Must have an acceptable driving report
• Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor Credential; Mental Health Counselor Licensure preferred. Must maintain an active status with Washington State and also have a SUD-P license (dual certification)

Preferred 

• Qualified Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) Designation preferred, but not required for consideration.  The successful candidate will be expected to complete and obtain the DCR Designation (if not currently in possession of), as directed by management 
• Licensed Clinician in the State of Washington
• Experience with a clinical computer software program
• Experience facilitating therapeutic groups 
• A full range of clinical knowledge including treatment of children, adults, couples and families 
• Spanish Bilingual/Bicultural
• Knowledge of County and Agency policies and procedures

Other Qualifications

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed indoors, but can be performed in varying temperatures. 
• Work is primarily performed in a one on one setting with clients.
• Work settings may include any of the Grant Integrated Services offices, schools, jails, client’s homes, or community locations.
• Work may be performed in other environments where the employee may be exposed to sub-sanitary environments, pets, and passive smoking.
• Daily exposure to potential verbal and physical aggression with risk of personal safety issues.
• Employee may be exposed to cleaning supply odors or vapors.
• Employee may be exposed to office supply odors or vapors.  
• Work duties may require employee to drive a vehicle, which involves risks associated with driving including road traffic conditions and inclement weather.
• Work duties may require employee to transport client in vehicles.

Physical Requirements

The physical abilities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, write, hear, speak and lift up to 50 lbs. of unequal weight.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision, peripheral, depth perception.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: (Several times per shift)

• Typing on keyboard 
• Operation of office equipment, including, but not limited to phone, copy machine, fax machine, computer 
• Operation of a car
• Personal safety exposure risk: HIGH 

• HIGH-Tasks that involve exposure to potentially verbally and physically aggressive individuals and/or environments
• MEDIUM-Tasks that involve no exposure to potentially verbally and physically aggressive individuals and/or environments, but employment may place employee in unplanned HIGH situations
• LOW-Tasks that involve no exposure to potentially verbally and physically aggressive individuals and/or environment
• Exposure Risk Rating: 3 

(Universal Precaution Category)

3-Tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues

2-Tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, but employment may require performing unplanned category 3 procedures

1-Taskes that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues

Mental Demands: (Several times per shift)

• Maintaining a high level of, and consistent, professional behavior in unpredictable and stressful situations
• Required to simultaneously manage and prioritize multiple competing tasks/requirements
• Concentration required for meeting and managing time, completing required documentation, and productivity requirements
• Concentration required during client assessment/treatment and subsequent documentation
• Respond to telephone calls from professionals or clients which means that work plans need to be changed
• The ability to act expediently and appropriately when responding to crisis situations
• On-going requirement for continual updating and learning of techniques and practices including Information Technology skills
• Working with clients with complex and diverse care needs

Emotional Demands: (Variable frequency)

• Acting as advocate for clients
• Communicating and dealing with vulnerable/distressed/anxious clients, family members, other providers and/or community 
• Dealing with challenging behaviors
• Discussion with clients about prognosis, treatments and implications of illness
• Employee may experience secondary trauma as a result of exposure to information that is disclosed and/or client actions
• Frequently dealing with situations involving domestic violence, abuse, family breakdown, conflict, and aggression
• Frequently communicating and dealing with situations involving other departments and/or co-workers
• Management/dealing with aggressive behavior and situations
• Participating within a team and dealing with any issues of conflict that arise

This position is represented by the Teamsters Local Union #760, Clinical Staff bargaining unit.